Lost Meadows Mule Refuge

08/26/2024

The last 4 days have been a whirlwind of crisis management as another spigot began leaking underground midday on Friday (the 3rd one in a 3 month period) and then our well system failed completely late Friday evening. I spent an hour calling every number in Texas to get an emergency bulk water delivery in addition to our reserve tank, as it is 100° every day right now and not having water is a serious emergency.

But, the well system magically fixed itself near midnight on Friday until this morning, when it failed again and we were without water again. I had already scheduled our plumber and well company to come out today to address both issues, and scheduled another water truck for tomorrow, just in case. The plumber is currently capping the spigot leak, and the well company has found a failed switch and is currently fixing it at the same time. The water should be back on any minute 🤞.

Both issues will bring us a bill of just under $3,000. We have an emergency fund for when things like this happen, but it is now depleted by that amount, and donations are appreciated to help us cover the deficit. I know it isn’t a glamorous or a “rescue” ask, but there is a price to pay sometimes for running a permanent sanctuary for 80+ mules!

PayPal.me/mulerefuge
https://lmmr.networkforgood.com/projects/158547-lost-meadows-mule-refuge (automatic email tax receipt)
P.O. Box 479 Caldwell, Texas 77836

08/26/2024

Hi all, I have a bit of a special request today!

Our new property has come with a small feral cat population, and like any responsible animal rescue, we are not only committed to helping mules, but to also helping any animal that truly needs us. Having cats around is pretty much a given when you work with equines. Their natural prey likes to live close to sources of hay and grain, and the cats will help us to manage rodents. I believe as an animal rescue, we are bound to manage and care for them responsibly. Preventing neglect and suffering is the foundation of a good rescue - mule or otherwise. I will not allow any animal to suffer, scrape to survive, or breed on LMMR’s property.

We have a few feral adult cats that need to be spayed/neutered and then released… and then 3 starving feral kittens appeared on my porch this weekend. I was able to trap one last night, and he is very young and malnourished. In my spare time I will be working on gentling these kittens one by one and finding them homes. Then we will work on trapping the adults and spaying/neutering them before we have an even bigger cat problem to deal with next year.

For now, we need an enclosure to keep these cats in after trapping so I can gentle them and let them recover from spay/neuter surgery. This is a significant expense that I have already taken on personally, and I am asking for help to purchase an outdoor covered kennel from TSC for $600. This kennel will be owned by LMMR and is large enough to house any type of small animal or livestock that might someday need our help too. We will be placing it inside the barn for now so the kitties can stay cool. If you’d like to help us, donations links are:

PayPal.me/mulerefuge
https://lmmr.networkforgood.com/projects/158547-lost-meadows-mule-refuge (automatic email tax receipt)
P.O. Box 479 Caldwell, Texas 77836

08/22/2024

Today, after years of waiting, Zoey and Lucy are leaving together with their new owners!

Zoey was rescued along with 53 other mules by Lost Meadows in 2020, and Lucy was surrendered to us in Illinois in 2020. They soon bonded together during their time at LMMR. We have since provided care, training, and fostering to both for 4 years, waiting patiently for them to be adopted. When their new owners applied to adopt both as first-time mule owners, we invested 30 more days of training into them so that their new owners could practice handling and be successful. This is our commitment to every mule rescued by Lost Meadows, and moments like this make me very proud and grateful for the trainers, fosters, supporters, and adopters who make it possible. It was a long road well worth the wait. Happy trails, girls! 💙

08/20/2024

Update from our Liberty Hill trainer!

“Julie is SO close to graduating training and being ready for adoption! Some final steps are making sure that her training transfers to other people and that her leading skills get a little sharper.

Catherine helped me out with both of those things today and I have to say that Catherine and Julie deserve gold stars! Julie allowed Catherine to catch, halter, and lead her in a new area with Julie responding courteously and promptly to Catherine's requests for walking, turning, and halting, even in the midst of the distraction of her two herdmates running around.

This is a super little molly who loves to interact with people. If you think you might like to adopt her, she's available for a meet and greet in Liberty Hill, TX after filling out an adoption application with Lost Meadows Mule Refuge.”

08/18/2024

It’s always a good day at the Refuge when there’s new fencing going up! Fencing is expensive, and we need so much of it to keep the mules safe and secure. We were going to wait to fence the driveway until next year, but unfortunately delivery drivers and contractors are not always making sure to shut our front gate behind them. After one of these times resulted in Suds taking a little trip down the county road last month, we decided fencing the driveway had to start ASAP. Phase 1 of the driveway fencing was today. Phase 2 will have to wait until next year and will cost $10,000, but it will make the front gate 100% escape-proof.

08/17/2024

Rascal is a coming 3 year old John mule rescued in Alabama in 2022 who has been at our McKinney trainer for almost 90 days now. This short clip shows him practicing behaviors with an unfamiliar volunteer. His trainer says he is coming along really well, and will need a home that will continue to handle him regularly. He will need to be with other equines who are easy to catch and handle as he likes to do what everyone else is doing. He will continue his training until the end of the year unless adopted before then. If you’re looking for a young, fun guy to walk on trails, teach tricks, pony off your horse, or teach to drive, Rascal could be yours! He is available for meet and greets in McKinney, Texas. Apply to adopt at mulerescue.org 💙

08/17/2024

This week we are in the hottest part of summer for our area with a daily Heat Advisory. One of our seniors conveniently broke another spigot by pushing it out of the ground, which caused our well to start emptying. Luckily I caught it within less than an hour and the plumber came out to assess and form a repair plan for tomorrow. While we waited, Bigs, Autumn and Cyrus enjoyed a cool shower.

08/15/2024

We have a fun request for all of you!

Our new barn will include a public preservation exhibit of historical mule objects, such as photographs, figurines, toys, signs, etc. An important part of our mission is to preserve and show their remarkable and underestimated contributions to the history of our country. Did you know over 100,000 mules served in the First World War alongside our American soldiers?

We have already collected some pretty special pieces over the years. If you have or find an authentic, antique mule item, please let us know! We will gladly accept it as a donation or pay for it within reason.

Although we love donkeys and horses too, this display will only include mules. If you are not sure what the item is (donkey, horse, or mule) message us a picture and we will determine if it’s a mule for you. (\_/)

08/15/2024

Don’t forget to donate a watermelon to our mules! Fundraiser ends soon.

We came up with a tasty way to fundraise for the remaining balance we need to complete our new barn! Make a $25 donation to buy a watermelon for the 85 mules at Lost Meadows. It’s been a HOT summer, and they deserve a tasty treat. We will go Live while we give the mules their watermelons, and take photos to share here too! We need as many watermelons as we can get, because as you can see, Gideon doesn’t like to share food… 🤣🍉

PayPal.me/mulerefuge
https://lmmr.networkforgood.com/projects/158547-lost-meadows-mule-refuge (automatic email tax receipt)
P.O. Box 479 Caldwell, Texas 77836

08/09/2024

I am devastated to share that our big, sweet Belgian boy Lager passed away overnight and was found by me this morning. This was so unexpected as he was perfectly healthy, in shape, happy, and perfectly himself yesterday. Based on appearance, we assume he had a sudden and major gastrointestinal event, whether colic or prolapse. I’m not sure there was anything we could have done even if we had known, but we are heartbroken to have lost him like this without a goodbye.

He was transferred to us last summer for retirement, along with his best friend Suds, after packing commercially in Montana for many years. Suds is grieving badly, standing at the fence looking at where Lager passed and refusing to leave to eat the grain we have put out for the seniors. We will do our best to comfort him, but this was a bond we can’t replace. It will never seem right to not see them together anymore. They had their tiffs, but they were best buds, two halves of a 1-ton whole.

I can take comfort in the fact that they had 9 months of wonderful retirement together here on our new property, although I wish it had been much longer for both. I know that there are several visitors and volunteers who will be sad to hear this, because he was always a crowd favorite and one of the first to be taken on walks and brushed. He was such a good boy, except for when it was breakfast time. There are some dents in our gates to remember him by.

Lagers passing comes with additional expenses, as his size requires us to immediately rent bigger equipment. We just made a quarterly payment last Friday of $24,300 to secure 180 more roundbales, so donations during this time are very appreciated.

PayPal.me/mulerefuge
https://lmmr.networkforgood.com/projects/158547-lost-meadows-mule-refuge (automatic email tax receipt)
P.O. Box 479 Caldwell, Texas 77836

08/07/2024

Here’s an update that wasn’t on my 2024 Bingo card!

Anyone who has spent enough time at LMMR knows Wh**ey, an oddball white mini-mule with plenty of character to make you laugh, named on a day when I had a dozen other white minis to name and was running out of creativity. From the day I rescued him in Michigan with 23 other miniature mules in 2019, he stood out for his quirky personality and troublemaking tendencies. Finally in 2023 I decided to give him a test run in our training program, and it took some time, but he really came around to the idea of trusting people rather than trying to just outsmart them. So much so, that he finished his training with flying colors this year in Liberty Hill and was adopted shortly after by a loving family who mentioned that he would be a model for their photography business.

I have to say though, seeing this former hooligan posing as a pretty unicorn with little princesses gave me a good laugh. I’m really proud of him and happy to see him more in touch with his feminine side! Pink is totally your color, Wh**ey (now Tater).

Follow Tater at: with Tater the Unicorn
Photo credit: Chelsea Lietz Photography

08/06/2024

We came up with a tasty way to fundraise for the remaining balance we need to complete our new barn! Make a $25 donation to buy a watermelon for the 85 mules at Lost Meadows. It’s been a HOT summer, and they deserve a tasty treat. We will go Live while we give the mules their watermelons, and take photos to share here too! We need as many watermelons as we can get, because as you can see, Gideon doesn’t like to share food… 🤣🍉

PayPal.me/mulerefuge
https://lmmr.networkforgood.com/projects/158547-lost-meadows-mule-refuge (automatic email tax receipt)
P.O. Box 479 Caldwell, Texas 77836

08/02/2024

$1,342/$5,000 raised! Matching Gift Challenge of $500 met - thank you everyone! 💙

08/02/2024

We have received a Matching Gift Challenge! All donations today up to $500 are doubled! Please help us complete construction on our very first barn, any amount helps:

PayPal.me/mulerefuge
https://lmmr.networkforgood.com/projects/158547-lost-meadows-mule-refuge (automatic email tax receipt)
P.O. Box 479 Caldwell, Texas 77836

08/01/2024

We need your help! Can we show this post the same love as the last one?! 💙

This video reveals our big, beautiful new barn, which has been under construction since March. The majority of the cost for this barn has been sponsored by someone who chooses to remain anonymous but has done more for our mules than can possibly put into words, and whose kindness I am reminded of daily every time I step outside to care for our mules.

A small portion of the remaining cost for this barn is up to us to raise, and I hope that each of our supporters on this Page will pitch in now to help us finish this labor of love for the mules. The last thing our barn needs to be complete is overhead fans, which will keep the mules cool in the summer and help to deter flies.

The cost for 2 96” overhead fans is $5,000. Matching gift offers are welcome to help us raise this amount. This is the biggest ask we’ve posted in a long time, but I’m very hopeful because there’s never been a Big Ask you, our supporters, haven’t achieved for the mules. 💙

We plan to announce a Grand Opening soon, and having the barn complete for the public and mules to enjoy would be so great, the perfect way to end 2024, our first year on this new property!

PayPal.me/mulerefuge
https://lmmr.networkforgood.com/projects/158547-lost-meadows-mule-refuge (automatic email tax receipt)
P.O. Box 479 Caldwell, Texas 77836

07/30/2024

I’m posting Hendrix again because this young handsome boy just keeps getting overlooked! I thought he’d be the first to be adopted in his training group last year, but… they are all adopted and he is still here. He went all the way from Texas to Virginia and back to Texas without a single adoption application!

Hendrix is a 7 year old 13h John mule who has been in our training program for almost 2 years. He is super easy to catch, stands tied, picks up his feet, stands for a farrier and hops right into the trailer. He is a very easy keeper and UTD on dewormer, vaccines, dental and trims

Due to the lack of interest, we have taken his training to the next level to help him get adopted. In the past month he has been saddled several times without any issues, and has accepted a rider on his back in a saddle without any issues. He doesn’t know any more than that, and is a blank slate for someone who wants to finish his training.

We think Hendrix is very easy to handle for someone who is confident and knows how to properly handle equines on the ground. He loves people, but he can get pushy if not handled correctly. He is very confident and playful with other equines, but will act jealous for attention. He needs a person who is both firm and gentle to continue his training. He would probably love to pony along on trails or learn all kinds of tricks. He would probably also do really well as a recreational pack mule, with a smaller load.

Hendrix is available for meet and greets in McKinney, TX. To apply for Hendrix, visit www.mulerescue.org

07/29/2024

I am sorry to share with you all that Brandy has passed away.

Despite our efforts to rehabilitate her with Texas A&Ms expert guidance, and giving her time these past few weeks to show improvement, her neurological issues were not getting much better. Paired with almost complete blindness, we decided it was unfair for her to continue to endure. We gave her a senior friend for company and as much food as she would eat, but there is much more to quality of life than food and companionship. We made a plan to take her in for euthanasia this week, but somewhat unexpectedly Brandy laid down in her paddock sometime late Saturday night and left on her own.

This saddens me as I had hoped she would be surrounded by people who cared about her as she passed, but the reality is sometimes you don’t get the ending you want for them in rescue, and you’re left feeling haunted by it, and the bitter reminder that someone else’s neglect is to blame. A day they won’t remember, but we will.

I’m truly sorry, Brandy.

PayPal.me/mulerefuge
https://lmmr.networkforgood.com/projects/158547-lost-meadows-mule-refuge (automatic email tax receipt)
P.O. Box 479 Caldwell, Texas 77836

07/25/2024

Today we also picked up Johnson, who had been adopted for a year after spending 14 years in the rescue system, and unfortunately had to be returned to us due to a progressive neurological problem that causes him to randomly lose balance and fall down. He will be visiting A&M soon for some diagnostic tests. This is our commitment in action to every mule that has called LMMR home.

07/25/2024

Today we took Lucy, Zoey and Lo**ta to our Liberty Hill trainer! Lucy and Zoey have been adopted, but we are going to invest in a 30 day refresher for both as their new owner who lives nearby is a first time mule owner and will be able to partake in their training and learn how to handle them properly as individuals. All 3 received a dental at A&M this week, and Lo**ta gave us quite the surprise when she was aged at 15 instead of 3 as we were told when we rescued her and Nina. She is however very friendly and should not take long to be available for adoption! She did unfortunately injure herself somehow in the trailer so our trainer had to call a vet out for some stitches, but it wasn’t too major and she is doing fine. We also got to see Barney, Dolly and Julie who have been in training for a few months now.

07/25/2024

48 hours after arriving and Sylvester is already starting to show his personality and an eagerness for human affection. He was intently watching me from afar and I walked over to see if he wanted attention. When he put his head over the panel my heart melted!

07/23/2024

Look who’s here! Brought to our front gate by the transporter as it is so rainy and muddy here that he would’ve gotten stuck. I can tell Sylvester is already a good boy. He was so brave coming off the trailer and leading to the quarantine area. He is probably 50 pounds underweight with open sores on his legs and overgrown feet, but overall very alert, polite and hungry. Thank you to everyone who showed us support towards his rescue.

07/21/2024

Yes, we were able to purchase the little gray mule at last nights auction. 💙 His highest bid prior to auction starting was $300, despite being advertised as seemingly well broke to ride and easy to handle. Bids this low are generally a cause for alarm that the mule will be flipped for profit, neglected, or purchased by a trader or killbuyer. We placed a maximum bid of $700 and purchased him for this amount. I have already named him Sylvester as for some reason the name rang in my head during the bidding process. Thank you to those of you who donated towards his purchase, transport and initial veterinary care. He will arrive at LMMR this week.

07/21/2024

There is a small, seemingly gentle mule at auction nearby tonight that we would like to help. Thanks to a couple adoptions this month, we have the room for another rescue case. To donate towards his purchase price, transport and initial veterinary care:

PayPal.me/mulerefuge
https://lmmr.networkforgood.com/projects/158547-lost-meadows-mule-refuge (automatic email tax receipt)
P.O. Box 479 Caldwell, Texas 77836

07/19/2024

Lucy gives us a perfect example of why ANNUAL dentals, even for equines that appear healthy, are a critical responsibility as an equine owner. Lucy is 14, a little bit overweight, and her coat is shiny and she doesn’t have any behavioral issues that point to a dentition issue. She also had an annual dental from 2020-2022 in our care. However, she is 7-8 months overdue for her 2023 dental because our big move in December set our dental schedule behind, and we are working to get caught back up.

In this video you can see that within a year Lucy has started to develop some sharp points that are causing lesions in the side of her mouth. While they are minor right now, if left unchecked for another several months this could easily cause more severe issues like abscesses/infection, not to mention pain that could result in systemic health issues and undesirable behavior such as reluctance to be touched and being difficult to catch.

Be a good equine owner and also save yourself money by getting your equines teeth examined once a year, regardless of how good they look on the outside!

07/19/2024

Drumroll please… after 3 years of waiting for a home, Zoey and Lucy have both been ADOPTED, together!! I have brought them to A&M to get a dental today before we transport them to Liberty Hill. Lo**ta is also here, not in the video, to get a dental before she heads to our trainer in Liberty Hill on the same trip. 💙

07/19/2024

Eli is settling in well and already coming to say hello in the mornings 💙 Eli is our 3rd rescue this year, which isn’t much compared to previous years but to us it is a success considering this is our first year on our new property and the amount of time and money it’s taking to build everything the mules need here. Eli is a big, sweet reminder of what all the sweat and stress is meant for!

07/17/2024

Today we did a day trip to pick up this big love! Eli was very loved by his previous owner but due to health, they had no choice but to find him another good home, and have trusted our organization to take ownership and keep him as a permanent ambassador. Eli is well-handled and broke to ride, and will hopefully become part of a lead-line riding program for visitors and volunteers at our Refuge in the future. We are confident he will love Lost Meadows and all the friends he will make, and are grateful to have been the ones chosen to adopt him and keep him from possibly ending up in a bad situation. 💙

Donations towards this case are appreciated to cover trip costs and initial care costs, as Eli is a gray mule and does have some potentially cancerous spots that will need to be evaluated and removed by a veterinarian as soon as possible.

PayPal.me/mulerefuge
https://lmmr.networkforgood.com/projects/158547-lost-meadows-mule-refuge (automatic email tax receipt)
P.O. Box 479 Caldwell, Texas 77836

07/13/2024

I want to announce that Renata, our former full-time ranchhand, now contract trainer, and always dear friend of mine is now starting a remote part-time position as LMMR’s receptionist! In the years past and especially during our big move last December, Renata has done more for Lost Meadows and our mules than can ever be put into words, and I am very grateful to continue to employ someone so reliable and trustworthy on our team.

Our phone hours are now 11-2 CT M-F. Our new permanent phone number is (512) 920-3153. Please be gracious as she learns how to field many types of calls.

Outside of these hours, Renata is currently training 3 LMMR mules: Jack, Journey and Luna.

Today is also her birthday. Please join us in wishing her a Happy Birthday! 💙

07/09/2024

Hi all, we have encountered a major issue with our primary email address and no longer have access to it. Whether this change is temporary or permanent remains to be seen, but please email all correspondence to [email protected]. Thank you.

07/08/2024

Update from our Liberty Hill trainer: “I have some great little ranch hands! And this is also why chores take so long!” Barney and Julie should finish their training and be ready for homes by the end of this year!